Unerving Vibrations...

[ej22tVermont]

So I have a strange vibration issue, that might make no sense to anybody, but some input would be great. By the way its a 94 legacy turbo (auto). When driving i notice a very slight vibe in my steering wheel at stops up to 65. This is when it gets worse, but it comes on harder and then less and over again. At this point I also seem to notice strange although slight vibrations right under me. So here is where the confusion begins...Its quiet. Silent like night. The alignment is perfect, and the wheels are perfectly balanced and checked for correct flat mounting on the hub. The bearings are smooth and quiet with low miles all the way around. No play in tie rods, axles, ball joints. And the suspension is good. The only bad is a mildly warped rotor from a stuck caliper, although this occurred even when the caliper was fine. Tires show no signs of problems, and have the correct pressure.
So the only things I have been wondering, is if the transmission mount is failing, or if it is possible for the drive shaft to get out of balance. I am so stuck on this, If anybody could help it would be great. I have come a long way with this car since I picked it up ($1000 with problems everywhere!) , and am so close to having it be near mint condition. Thanks!!!

[AWD_addict]

This is only during braking? Your rotors could be warped.

It could be the drive shaft, the U-joints sometimes fail enough to cause vibration.

[ej22tVermont]

This is not during braking. this happens while at steady speeds, accelerating and deceleration w/out brakes. It is really strange. In all the years working on cars and building awesome project cars from nothing to beautiful, this is the first time I have ever encountered a problem of this nature.

[shtbxr22]

how about a strut? I have a bimmer that would do the same thing until I replaced it. do you have any leaky struts? do the "bounce" test.

[ej22tVermont]

They are not leaking. Not to say that they are perfect, but there is no bounce. The car handles perfectly.

[shtbxr22]

possible weight fallen off the driveshaft? is your car automatic? if so, look at the trans mount. there should be a pin looking thing with a bushing on the end coming down through a hole in the mount. if it's not perfectly centered in the hole, ie: bent, it will contact the side causing a vibration.

[ej22tVermont]

Thanks , I will check this out in the morning. Seeing as how it acts with its off and on again oscillation I have wondered about driveshaft balance. It is Automatic.

[Rocco]

It sounds like I have the exact problem and know answers yet. I did have my driveshaft replaced with a one piece because the Suby dealer 2 piece was way to expensive. I think your on to something with the mounts. My problem starts at 80mph and hits hard in the 90's. I thought all the change in my center console was going to explode in my face the other day.
My post:
http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?t=40868

[ej22tVermont]

So I am still hunting for the solution to this problem, if anybody has any more ideas. The drive shaft was checked, and was fine. Since the last post, I have replaced tie rods (inner and outer, both sides), strut mounts, new tires, ball joints. I still have this mysterious shake. From what i have repaired I have lessened the vibrations,but at 60 it still gets bad. The only other thing I have to replace is the u-joint on the steering column going into the rack. It has some play in it, however I am not hopeful that this will solve the problem. Ideas????

[gijonas]

If you indeed have a good alighnment (proof)?.And tires balanced,i would check the mating surfaces for the rotors to hubs and between the wheels and rotors.Corrosion or crud between mating surfaces can cause problems.If the shake is in your steering wheel then it is most likely not dtiveshaft related.Perhaps lose tie tod end or balljoint as well.....

Oh yeah - first thing you need to do is go out and make sure you dont have a bent rim.

[tahiti350]

Swing by Les Schwab and request to have the tires load tested (Road force test?). It's a different type of balancer that applies a pressure on the tread of the tire and then spins it to check for any abnormal wobble or out-of-round conditions.

I had this done and finally found the vibration in my wife's old Buick (before I upgraded her to Legacy status...)

[ej22tVermont]

Okay, so I think I found what may be the problem, but I need some input.

When doing a dry park test, a loud pronounced click/clunking is noticed. It also happens while on a lift. It does it when I turn the wheel to the right and bring it back to the left. (Tie rods are new, inner and outer) When I place my hand on the Steering rack itself and have someone vigourisly turn the wheel back and fourth, it clicks.

Here is the question... On the Passenger side it is more prevelant. When I pull down (fairly hard too) on the passenger side of the rack, where the inner tie rod mates to it, the clicking goes away. So does this just need some sort of adjustment, or a full replacement??

I would not be so concerned, since I have driven it this way for a year and a half, but it suddenly got bad the other day. Much louder, and it seems to clunk through the floorboards and steering wheel when I am accelerating and turning. I am about to get extremely busy with work, and need to solve this before It sends me off the road!

Please, if anybody has experienced this, and knows what to do let me know!

Thanks!

[ej22tVermont]

Sorry, when I pull down on the geared portion of the rack, not the housing itself. And the Rack bushings are good, and the bolts are secured! HELP!!

[Legacy777]

You may just need a new rack. How old are the ball joints?

[ej22tVermont]

Ball joints are new. I think it is finally time for a new rack myself. Probably doesn't help when you hit 65-70 and throw it sideways in snowy yet bumpy roads/lots on a regular basis. I kind of saw this coming, in fact the last snowstorm (about a month ago) I was so frustrated with the car I hit 80 and blasted the E brake into the Mad River Ski Area parking lot, purposly trying to get whatever was loose to break. I guess it finally has happened. Oh well.